Ravens running back Ray Rice said he did not spit at a Cleveland Browns player. / Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sport

by Jim Corbett, USA TODAY Sports

by Jim Corbett, USA TODAY Sports

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens are off to a disappointing 3-4 start. Still coach John Harbaugh sees reason for optimism as the calendar turns to November.

Quarterback Joe Flacco is 17-5 in the month over his career.

The 2012 Ravens went 4-0 last November, lost four of five December games, then rallied to make their Super Bowl XLVII title run.

"I have really high hopes for this team and I've told the players that,'' Harbaugh said Thursday. "I really believe this team is going to catch fire.''

In a bid to spark things, Harbaugh and general manager Ozzie Newsome made a statement Wednesday by jettisoning disappointing free-agent safety Michael Huff and defensive end Marcus Spears.

"When you see guys like that leave, great guys, veteran guys -- some of the guys in the locker room were like, 'Man, I need to tighten up because anyone could be next out the door,''' cornerback Lardarius Webb told USA TODAY Sports.

"This is where you test the character of your team when times are tough. We know we have a great ballclub. So we're just going to keep fighting.''

Defensive end Chris Canty heard the message loud and clear heading into Sunday's AFC North divisional road game against the Cleveland Browns (3-5).

"It's shocking,'' Canty said of the releases of Huff and Spears. "It's guys you went to battle with, guys we felt could help us. It doesn't matter how we as players feel.

"The evaluators have a job to do and make decisions based on what they see. We as players have to move forward with that.''

Canty pointed to the importance of back-to-back divisional games against the Browns and the division-leading Cincinnati Bengals (6-2). The Ravens, who lost two straight before last week's bye, trail the Bengals by 2.5 games and face Cincinnati twice during the second half.

"We've got two division games, two opportunities," Canty said. "But we can only focus on the one in front of us now with the Cleveland Browns.''

Running back Ray Rice, recovering from a hip flexor injury, called Sunday's game against Cleveland a must win. Rice, who is averaging just 2.8 yards per carry, spoke of starting "a new chapter.''

"If you want a chance to play in January, you've got to take care of your business in November and December,'' Rice said.

The Ravens back downplayed an alleged incident in which Browns players said Rice spit on Cleveland defensive tackle Phil Taylor after Taylor dropped Rice for a 3-yard loss early in Baltimore's 14-6 win in Week 2.

"We were two guys jawing at each other, and I had my mouthpiece in, so when I went to say something back to him, it looked as if I projected towards him,'' Rice said. "But I had my mouthpiece in, I was saying something. He was saying something, and then, obviously, that's what happened.

''We'll leave that at that.''

Taylor's reaction?

"Whatever happened in that game was that game,'' he said. "I'm looking forward to this game.''

So are the Ravens, who look to hit the reset button.

"Coach Harbaugh talked to us about catching fire and we know what we have to do,'' receiver Torrey Smith said. "We know we have to go out there and get it done.

"Every game is huge. But obviously, the later in the season you go, the games become that much more important."